Stacey's Broken Heart by Ann M. Martin

Author:Ann M. Martin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2015-10-09T16:00:00+00:00

Mallory phoned me at Dad’s apartment that night. “Help!” she said. “Abby is a lunatic! She’s ruining the club!”

“Calm down,” I told her. “What happened?”

Apparently, Abby had called another special meeting in order to make signs advertising the Mexican festival. Once again, the kids met at Dawn and Mary Anne’s barn.

This time, Mary Anne was baby-sitting for Sara and Norman Hill, who are nine and seven. Sara, who loves art, was very excited about working on the project. Claudia arrived with Charlotte Johanssen (eight), and Jessi came with Becca again. Charlotte and Becca are best friends, so they were thrilled to see each other. This time Mallory showed up with only Vanessa, Margo, and Claire, since the boys were playing baseball somewhere.

Abby came last with the Rodowsky kids whom she was sitting for: Shea (nine), Jackie (seven), and Archie (four). “Everyone owes me six dollars,” she announced as she set a paper bag on the ground in the barn.

“What for?” Mallory asked.

“I spent thirty-six bucks on these supplies. Six times six is thirty-six, so you each owe me six.”

“Since we’re all paying for the supplies, shouldn’t we have talked about it first?” Mallory protested, trying to be diplomatic.

“I’m president, aren’t I?” Abby replied. “And treasurer. I make those decisions.”

Mallory didn’t know how to argue this point, but it didn’t seem right to her.

“The treasurer and president make decisions about money that we’ve already contributed in dues,” Claudia said. “You can’t just charge us for stuff you decide to buy.”

Abby faced Claudia, hands on hips. Her expression was annoyed. The fact that all the kids were staring at Abby, Claudia, and Mallory made it even more tense. “Forget it,” Abby said with a smile and a shrug. “I’ll eat the other thirty myself. It’s no big deal.”

“You shouldn’t have to do that,” Mary Anne said quickly. “That wouldn’t be fair to you.” She took a five-dollar bill from the back pocket of her jeans, added a single to it, and handed it to Abby.

“Thanks,” Abby said.

Mallory still didn’t think it was fair to have to pay for something she hadn’t agreed to buy, but she felt she ought to offer the money since Mary Anne had. She fished six singles from her pocket, as did Jessi and Claudia. “Next time ask me before you buy art supplies. I have a ton of stuff I could have brought over,” Claudia grumbled.

“Sure. Okay,” Abby agreed. “I’ll try to remember I’m a president and not a dictator.”

Claudia laughed. “Good idea.”

With that done, Abby set to work laying out sheets of posterboard, markers, glitter pens, crayons, and paint. “Okay, guys,” she said to the group. “The festival is next Saturday. We’ll start at noon. There will be games, food, and fun. We’ll hold it at …” She looked around. “Where?”

“You mean you don’t know?” Mallory asked.

“I figured I’d come up with someplace,” Abby answered.

“I thought it was going to be at your house,” Jessi said.

“We could have it there. But it’s sort of out of the way.

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